JOHOR BARU: RM272.6mil in financial aid has been disbursed to 13,091 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Johor, says Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic).
The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister said the assistance was given out from January to May this year through the ministry's agencies.
Last year, RM771.4mil in aid was given out, he added.
“For Johor (so far this year), we have helped 10,672 entrepreneurs through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) with financing aid worth RM81.5mil.
“A total of 2,083 entrepreneurs received RM41.8mil in aid through the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional)," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the One District, One Industry (SDSI) Southern Region showcase here on Sunday (June 23).
Other aid disbursed included RM57.3mil from Bank Rakyat (297 entrepreneurs), RM91.4mil from SME Bank (37 entrepreneurs), and RM660,000 from Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas) (two companies).
Asked if the ministry received a lower number of applications for financial assistance from Johor, Ewon said it was still too early to determine the figure.
“The assistance we gave was from January to May. Some applications may still be under processing, so it is still too early to say if the applications were low or high.
“This is why we organised SDSI, to inform entrepreneurs out there that the ministry has various financial services to help them expand their businesses,” he said.
